Latendresse benched again

[Mathletic]

Look if Latendresse isn't Sutter's type of player, Sutter wouldn't have picked him. Latendresse has strengths (his size and power) and weaknesses (his skating). However, if Latendresse doesn't make use of his strengths then his weaknesses become all the more evident. And right now his weaknesses are as plain as the sweater on his back. Latendresse deserves to sit until he starts to play to his strengths.

And I haven't heard anyone whine about Cogliano being benched. Habs fans are sometimes too much too stomach and I'm a Habs fan.

Cogliano was benched for 1 period and he had his chance to get back. I said it in a previous post that it's completly stupid to ask this guy to hit. He probably never checked anybody of life now he's being asked to and he's doing it wrong all the time. Notice how many times he could only take the puck and skate away with it. Now he goes out and hit a guy for nor reason. Sutter got him to play in a different game than his own and it's ridiculus.

Latendresse plays well every shift he gets, there's no reason he shouldn't play more often. If you bench a guy for making a mistake then you have to reward him if he starts playing well. Latendresse certainly has and he's not rewarded for it. It's just a big joke IMO.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Guillaume will have to play with someone who will be able to feed him the puck in the offensive zone in order to be more efficient. It hasn't happened yet as Comeau is definitely not a fit for Latendresse as we noticed so far. Comeau will use his speed and will work hard in all three zones, but he holds on to the puck alot and isn't known for his passing. Personally, I'd like seeing Gui with Cogliano and Chipchura and have Boyd, Comeau and Bolland together instead.

If you look at his season in the QJMHL, Latendresse has been doing well because Brassard is the perfect fit for him; a center who sees the ice well and can find the open man with his slick playmaking. Latendresse being an exceptional finisher (IMO at least), there's no wonder he's scoring alot in Drummondville. There aren't many players in the Brassard mold on this year's edition to the exception of Cogliano and Toews to a lesser extent...

Letang made the team because of Bourdon
Russel made the team because of Barker

Brassard should have made the team because of Latendresse. The chemisty those 2 have is just unreal and unteachable. It seems as though the forwards arent really clicking.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Look if Latendresse isn't Sutter's type of player, Sutter wouldn't have picked him. Latendresse has strengths (his size and power) and weaknesses (his skating). However, if Latendresse doesn't make use of his strengths then his weaknesses become all the more evident. And right now his weaknesses are as plain as the sweater on his back. Latendresse deserves to sit until he starts to play to his strengths.

And I haven't heard anyone whine about Cogliano being benched. Habs fans are sometimes too much too stomach and I'm a Habs fan.

Cogliano deserved to be benched in game 2 as did Latendresse. People arent pissed off Latendresse was benched in games 1 and 2 but why in game 3? With all the dumb *** penalties the other guys were taking why was Latendresse the only one benched??

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Like someone mentionned, Sutter has an affinity for a certain type of player, and that's evidence by the oodles of icetime guys like Downie, Boyd, Comeau are getting, and this despite undiscipline by 1 of those players...But spare me the Latendresse is now a bust talk because of 3 games, I remember last year when Andrei Kostitsyn tore it up vs. USA, alot of you here were telling Habs fans to calm down and that it was just 1 little game...

Ok, let's get a few things straight. Downie, Boyd, and Comeau have probably been our best forward players. I'm also going to include Chipchura in the bunch. As for those four not having the offensive touch that Latendresse has, that's laughable. As for undisciplined play, those guys have been the most disciplined of the bunch and always hold themselves accountable for their play. You see them out there driving the net, grinding in the corners, doing all the little things in order to win. Latendresse has been floating like a balloon out there. So yeah, until Latendresse decides to start doing the little things, he won't get a ton of ice time. I'd like to see the same thing happen to Benoit Pouliot as well. He's been floating as well. The two of them have been called to task for their lack of intensity and it's apparent in their play that they lack some sort of intensity. They have no urgency in their games. That's where the muckers come in. They always play with some sort of urgency.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Ok, let's get a few things straight. Downie, Boyd, and Comeau have probably been our best forward players. I'm also going to include Chipchura in the bunch. As for those four not having the offensive touch that Latendresse has, that's laughable. As for undisciplined play, those guys have been the most disciplined of the bunch and always hold themselves accountable for their play. You see them out there driving the net, grinding in the corners, doing all the little things in order to win. Latendresse has been floating like a balloon out there. So yeah, until Latendresse decides to start doing the little things, he won't get a ton of ice time. I'd like to see the same thing happen to Benoit Pouliot as well. He's been floating as well. The two of them have been called to task for their lack of intensity and it's apparent in their play that they lack some sort of intensity. They have no urgency in their games. That's where the muckers come in. They always play with some sort of urgency.

I agree partly. Those guys you mentioned first are into a rythm right now. They are playing 20 minutes a game if not more. Pouliot and Latendresse maybe get 5 shifts a game. Its the chicken and egg theory. Guys like Pouliot and Latendresse need a lot of icetime to get into a groove but when they are in a groove they cant be stoped. Sutter isnt willing to wait until they get it going. Can you fault him? Well not really considering we almost lost to the Swiss.

 

[Mathletic]

Ok, let's get a few things straight. Downie, Boyd, and Comeau have probably been our best forward players. I'm also going to include Chipchura in the bunch. As for those four not having the offensive touch that Latendresse has, that's laughable. As for undisciplined play, those guys have been the most disciplined of the bunch and always hold themselves accountable for their play. You see them out there driving the net, grinding in the corners, doing all the little things in order to win. Latendresse has been floating like a balloon out there. So yeah, until Latendresse decides to start doing the little things, he won't get a ton of ice time. I'd like to see the same thing happen to Benoit Pouliot as well. He's been floating as well. The two of them have been called to task for their lack of intensity and it's apparent in their play that they lack some sort of intensity. They have no urgency in their games. That's where the muckers come in. They always play with some sort of urgency.

Downie has taken a lot of penalties, I'll give a free pass since he's playing very well overall. But Latendresse has hit more than Pyatt and other players who keep on playing regularly. He also had a couple offensive scoring chances, so he certainly deserves a shot at playing regularly. It's simply not true to say he's been floating.

 

[Mathletic]

I agree partly. Those guys you mentioned first are into a rythm right now. They are playing 20 minutes a game if not more. Pouliot and Latendresse maybe get 5 shifts a game. Its the chicken and egg theory. Guys like Pouliot and Latendresse need a lot of icetime to get into a groove but when they are in a groove they cant be stoped. Sutter isnt willing to wait until they get it going. Can you fault him? Well not really considering we almost lost to the Swiss.

why was it close against the Swiss and why was canada unable to run up the score on Norway ?

your offensive guys are snobbed because they don't hit as much as the coach would like them to hit.

 

[417]

Look if Latendresse isn't Sutter's type of player, Sutter wouldn't have picked him. Latendresse has strengths (his size and power) and weaknesses (his skating). However, if Latendresse doesn't make use of his strengths then his weaknesses become all the more evident. And right now his weaknesses are as plain as the sweater on his back. Latendresse deserves to sit until he starts to play to his strengths.

And I haven't heard anyone whine about Cogliano being benched. Habs fans are sometimes too much too stomach and I'm a Habs fan.

Jesus, how many times do I have to lay it out before people understand what i'm saying...I don't have a problem with the was Latendresse had been used in Games 1 and 2...he was subpar and deserved the little icetime he got...but apparently, he had a good enough 2nd and 3rd period in game #2 to have Sutter promote him to the 1st line for the start of game #3...

He played 4 shifts and then he was benched... <-------- that right there is my issue, he was on the ice for Canada's first goal, then didn't see the ice again until the 2nd period, where he only saw 2 shifts for 15 secs. If Latendresse got benched in the first two games it's because he deserved it, but in the 3rd period, he didn't get a chance to either redeem himself or play himself out of the lineup.

He simply wasn't given a chance in the 3rd game, when others (Pouliot, Cogliano) were given a chance to redeem himself...

Even the commentators on RDS were saying the same thing, they interviewed his dad at the end of the 1st period and he said the same thing...

Some of you can't get past the fact that i'm a Habs fan to actually realize what i'm saying...if Sutter feels like Latendresse isn't playing well enough to warrant icetime, fine, I have no problem with that, but give him the same chance you're giving to others to redeem themselves, that's all i'm saying.

 

[David]

Sutter hates skill.

I wouldn't go that far esp. since that wouldn't make sense... In my view, Talent + Hard Work = Winning.

What I would say is that Sutter loves hard work so much that he sees it as being end all and be all to all things...therein lies

Problem #1. Sutter thinks that hard work can over come all things including talent. The problem is that at certain level, it cannot.

Solution. Sutter needs to realize no matter how long you chop an oak tree with a butter knife, the tree just ain't gonna fall...at least not in time for the gold medal game.


Problem #2. Sutter is no Scotty Bowman. Scotty has this inate ability to identify the strength of players and utilize them for that particular purpose so that they are successful. See Todd Gill, Steve Duschesne, Larry Murphy, etc, etc. Guys that were given up for dead whose careers were resurrected because the coach knew how to use them. Sutter does not know how to do this.

Solution. Sutter needs to see the big picture. He needs to use the shovel for digging and axe for chopping. He's asking an axe to cut grass...I'm sure that it can be done but why not just use the lawn mower that's just sitting in the shed?

Problem #3. As talented as they are, Gui and Pouliot to a lesser degree are not working that hard. They are not doing the little things that I would tell them to do as a coach...which means that they are certainly not doing the things that Sutter is telling them to do. And I suspect that there are some attitude thrown in there too although on TV they say all the right things.

Solution. Gui and Benoit have to submit to Sutter for their own good (in the long run - ie. making it to NHL - once again see Anthony Stewart) as well as the good of the team and start doing the things that are asked of them. Don't get into a battle of wills or pride with Sutter because it's not gonna do either of these guys any good. If they feel that they are being ostracized (sp?) for being French ( and I'm not saying they are), so be it! Suck it up and get going... millions of people everywhere work under the same or MUCH, MUCH worse kind of injustice and racism all over the world...including in Canada. They make it work, so you also can make it work!


Problem #4. I'm afraid that now it's gotten to be more of a control issue for Sutter rather than just work ethic issue for Latendress and Pouliot. Gui doesn't do what is asked of him so Sutter cuts his ice time to show him who's the boss.

Solution. Kiss and make up for your own idividual good and also for the good of the team. Wake up smell the coffee! You guys are playing US tomorrow!!!

 

[mooseOAK*]

Many players worked very hard to make this team so the ones that did make it should be playing their best and if they are not then they have no one to blame but themselves. Sutter knows that he can beat teams like Norway and Switzerland without his best offensive players so if they aren't performing well these games were perfect for getting his point across to them.

Character shall be revealed on Saturday.

 

[417]

Ok, let's get a few things straight. Downie, Boyd, and Comeau have probably been our best forward players. I'm also going to include Chipchura in the bunch. As for those four not having the offensive touch that Latendresse has, that's laughable. As for undisciplined play, those guys have been the most disciplined of the bunch and always hold themselves accountable for their play. You see them out there driving the net, grinding in the corners, doing all the little things in order to win. Latendresse has been floating like a balloon out there. So yeah, until Latendresse decides to start doing the little things, he won't get a ton of ice time. I'd like to see the same thing happen to Benoit Pouliot as well. He's been floating as well. The two of them have been called to task for their lack of intensity and it's apparent in their play that they lack some sort of intensity. They have no urgency in their games. That's where the muckers come in. They always play with some sort of urgency.

I agree they have been our best forwards, even though Downie was very undisciplined last night, but they also see a ton of icetime, sometimes staying a full 2 minutes on the PP...I don't even think Chipchura has played enough if you're considering how well he's played...

As for Pouliot and Latendresse, it's hard for me to say they're floating because they're never on the ice...some players need more than 2 shifts a period to get into a groove, we all know this...I have serious concerns with the way Sutter is handing out his icetime, but I digress, he knows what he's doing and I obviously don't see the practice habits of every player...While it's up to guys like Latendresse, Pouliot and Cogliano to show Sutter they deserve more icetime, it's also up to Sutter get the most out of them, and I just don't feel like he's done this...those 3 players were probably Canada's best during pre-tournament games, so it's not like they can't do it

 

[417]

I wouldn't go that far esp. since that wouldn't make sense... In my view, Talent + Hard Work = Winning.

What I would say is that Sutter loves hard work so much that he sees it as being end all and be all to all things...therein lies

Problem #1. Sutter thinks that hard work can over come all things including talent. The problem is that at certain level, it cannot.

Solution. Sutter needs to realize no matter how long you chop an oak tree with a butter knife, the tree just ain't gonna fall...at least not in time for the gold medal game.


Problem #2. Sutter is no Scotty Bowman. Scotty has this inate ability to identify the strength of players and utilize them for that particular purpose so that they are successful. See Todd Gill, Steve Duschesne, Larry Murphy, etc, etc. Guys that were given up for dead whose careers were resurrected because the coach knew how to use them. Sutter does not know how to do this.

Solution. Sutter needs to see the big picture. He needs to use the shovel for digging and axe for chopping. He's asking an axe to cut grass...ain't gonna happen!


Problem #3. As talented as they are, Gui and Pouliot to a lesser degree are not working that hard. They are not doing the little things that I would tell them to do as a coach...which means that they are certainly not doing the things that Sutter is telling them to do. And I suspect that there are some attitude thrown in there too although on TV they say all the right things.

Solution. Gui and Benoit have to submit to Sutter for their own good (in the long run - ie. making it to NHL - once again see Anthony Stewart) as well as the good of the team and start doing the things that are asked of them. Don't get into a battle of wills or pride with Sutter because it's not gonna do either of these guys any good. If they feel that they are being ostracized (sp?) for being French ( and I'm not saying they are), so be it! Suck it up and get going... millions of people everywhere work under the same or MUCH, MUCH worse kind of injustice and racism all over the world...including in Canada. They make it work, so you also can make it work!


Problem #4. I'm afraid that now it's gotten to be more of a control issue for Sutter rather than just work ethic issue for Latendress and Pouliot. Gui doesn't do what is asked of him so Sutter cuts his ice time to show him who's the boss.

Solution. Kiss and make up for your own idividual good and also for the good of the team. Wake up smell the coffee! You guys are playing US tomorrow!!!

Excellent post...I agree 100%

 

[God Bless Canada]

Letang made the team because of Bourdon
Russel made the team because of Barker

Brassard should have made the team because of Latendresse. The chemisty those 2 have is just unreal and unteachable. It seems as though the forwards arent really clicking.

Do your research. Russell is not on Team Canada because of Barker. He's on Team Canada because he deserves to be there. He has been one of the best defencemen in the Dub this year, and many WHL observers believe he has outplayed Barker.

The bottom line is Canada needs more from Pouliot, Latendresse and Cogliano. They have the potential to be the team's top three scorers. Pouliot could be this year's Jeff Carter. He threw a great hit late in the second period yesterday that seemed to spark Canada. But the hands, the shot, the combination of skill and size that we've come to expect from him? Not yet. Cogliano has been the biggest culprit of playing to the level of his opponent. He's one of the fastest skaters in the tournament, especially with the puck on his stick. He was unstoppable vs. the Finns. But the last two games, he hasn't shown the same pinache with the puck. He also has a Mike Johnson-esque aversion to shooting the puck. Latendresse has been a colossal disappointment. I went to yesterday's game, and he was invisible. He needs to regain the form he had in Montreal's camp and the 2004 Junior World Cup, when he was the best player in the tournament. Even in the Q, he hasn't been posting the numbers many expected of him. I wouldn't rate Latendresse as a completely lost cause yet, he has too much talent in front of the net to do that. But he needs to do more. (And when you look at Team Canada last year, everyone bought into Sutter's teachings. Even Perry was playing great two-way hockey).

 

[loudi94]

I think what it comes down to is that Lats only has eyes for the NHL and playing in junior this year has been a disappointment for him. He'd have been better off having a quiet NHL camp and not being sucked into the spectacle that is the Montreal media. Being one of the last cuts and being so much as told that the only reason to go back to Jr is so a different player won't be lost to waivers would be a tough pill to swallow. We must remember that an 18 year old is still a child in many instances, and Gui probably isn't as mature than others to handle that kind of situation.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Do your research. Russell is not on Team Canada because of Barker. He's on Team Canada because he deserves to be there. He has been one of the best defencemen in the Dub this year, and many WHL observers believe he has outplayed Barker.

The bottom line is Canada needs more from Pouliot, Latendresse and Cogliano. They have the potential to be the team's top three scorers. Pouliot could be this year's Jeff Carter. He threw a great hit late in the second period yesterday that seemed to spark Canada. But the hands, the shot, the combination of skill and size that we've come to expect from him? Not yet. Cogliano has been the biggest culprit of playing to the level of his opponent. He's one of the fastest skaters in the tournament, especially with the puck on his stick. He was unstoppable vs. the Finns. But the last two games, he hasn't shown the same pinache with the puck. He also has a Mike Johnson-esque aversion to shooting the puck. Latendresse has been a colossal disappointment. I went to yesterday's game, and he was invisible. He needs to regain the form he had in Montreal's camp and the 2004 Junior World Cup, when he was the best player in the tournament. Even in the Q, he hasn't been posting the numbers many expected of him. I wouldn't rate Latendresse as a completely lost cause yet, he has too much talent in front of the net to do that. But he needs to do more. (And when you look at Team Canada last year, everyone bought into Sutter's teachings. Even Perry was playing great two-way hockey).

Russell has looked horrible this far. Barely got ice in the 3rd and was taken off the top PP. Plus it was mentioned how his chemistry with Barker played a role on his making the team.

 

[Souffle]

The problem with Latendresse is that he's trying to be too fancy. He needs to run over people. With his size, he should be steamrolling the opposition and he's not doing that. He's skating around them and trying to make the fancy play. That's why Latendresse keeps getting benched.

Guys like Latendresse (and that includes Pouliot) need to follow the style of play that Michael Blunden is playing. Be physical, hit hard and go straight to the net. None of the fancy dipsy doodle crap that you're seeing from guys like Pouliot and Latendresse.

I'd even say that Latendresse should follow the lead that Steve Downie and Dustin Boyd have been setting for the rest of the team. If anything, those two and Kyle Chipchura have been our best forwards on the team.

Exactly. He's playing around traffic rather than through it. Small example last night was when he sprung Cogliano in the neutral zone for a nice rush. Rather than being right there for the fat rebound, he was boxed out, off to the side, by the undersized Norwegian defenceman. With his size, he should have been right on top of the goalie.

He just seems to be trying to create space by stickhandling rather than by using his size. His success in training camp was mostly about banging bodies and being opportunistic with loose pucks created by his physical play. He should be playing like Bertram and O'Marra rather than trying to be slick like Toews and Cogliano.

 

[La Grosse Tendresse]

This is pretty easy to answer.

Guillaume Latendresse is being benched because he comes from Sainte-Catherine, Quebec.

If his name was Steve Smith, from Red Deer, Alberta, he would get his fair chance. He doesn't even get the chance to play bad, Sutter just benches him, using him as an exemple for all of the team who has been playing pretty bad.

To all those who drink the TSN-Pierre McGwire Kool-Aid, Sutter is NOT that good of a coach. If he isn't in the NHL, it's for a good reason: Yes, his "no-BS" way may work with 18-year-old kids, but it would never work in the pro ranks. Also, his type of goon hockey is great for a short tourney playing against mostly inferior opponents that are not used to such physical play, but it would never fly elsewhere.

 

[baston]

Oh please, the only reason the majority of people on here are raising a stink about Latendresse is because he's a French man. If any other forward that wasn't a French man were playing the way Latendresse has been playing, the majority would be all over them. Give it up already. Latendresse isn't playing because he stinks. I'm so tired of all the sugar coating with regards to Latendresse. He's playing like crap and he doesn't deserve the time. If he comes out against the U.S. and he's hitting hard and driving to the net, then give him boatloads of time.

Pouliot doesn't speak a word of french and he also needs more ice time. Stop the racist paranoia.

I might be blind, but I saw Latendresse on the ice for 4 small shifts. And I saw at least 3 solid body checks. He was on the ice on Barker's goal and then, got benched. Really, Sutter should explain why he's benching him. He might have a good reason, and we'd shut our dirty mouths, but as long as I'm concerned, I can't see why he doesn't have at least a chance.

 

[Dream Big]

I think, the strategy is to wind him up like a top (the type that spins fast) and then let him go in the important game. See if the pent up energy and desire will make the difference that team Canada will need to beat the USA team.

 

[417]

Pouliot doesn't speak a word of french and he also needs more ice time. Stop the racist paranoia.

I might be blind, but I saw Latendresse on the ice for 4 small shifts. And I saw at least 3 solid body checks. He was on the ice on Barker's goal and then, got benched. Really, Sutter should explain why he's benching him. He might have a good reason, and we'd shut our dirty mouths, but as long as I'm concerned, I can't see why he doesn't have at least a chance.

I saw the exact same thing...

 

[Ogopogo*]

Latendresse deserves some ice time and it's not up to Sutter to decide if he's ready or not. .

Actually, that is exactly Sutter's job as head coach.

 

[417]

This is pretty easy to answer.

Guillaume Latendresse is being benched because he comes from Sainte-Catherine, Quebec.

If his name was Steve Smith, from Red Deer, Alberta, he would get his fair chance. He doesn't even get the chance to play bad, Sutter just benches him, using him as an exemple for all of the team who has been playing pretty bad.

To all those who drink the TSN-Pierre McGwire Kool-Aid, Sutter is NOT that good of a coach. If he isn't in the NHL, it's for a good reason: Yes, his "no-BS" way may work with 18-year-old kids, but it would never work in the pro ranks. Also, his type of goon hockey is great for a short tourney playing against mostly inferior opponents that are not used to such physical play, but it would never fly elsewhere.

I don't get into all the language issues here...it's not fair to make accusations like that without any kind of solid proof...however, I do agree with you second paragraph...someone noted that they wen to the game last night and that Latendresses was floating, well like you said, he doesn't even get the chance to play bad, so how anyone can say that I find weird...The whole team has underperformed, why only Latendresse gets the shaft is also weird IMO...

As for Sutter the coach, I agree, I don't think he's as good a coach as the TSN tools (not Bob MacKenzie) make him out to be, he's respected by his players that play for him, which goes a long way...but he's also stubborn in his ways and doesn't think proactively IMO...but then again, who am I to say such things...the results of this tournament will prove how good he is

 

[Ogopogo*]

This is pretty easy to answer.

Guillaume Latendresse is being benched because he comes from Sainte-Catherine, Quebec.

If his name was Steve Smith, from Red Deer, Alberta, he would get his fair chance. He doesn't even get the chance to play bad, Sutter just benches him, using him as an exemple for all of the team who has been playing pretty bad.

To all those who drink the TSN-Pierre McGwire Kool-Aid, Sutter is NOT that good of a coach. If he isn't in the NHL, it's for a good reason: Yes, his "no-BS" way may work with 18-year-old kids, but it would never work in the pro ranks. Also, his type of goon hockey is great for a short tourney playing against mostly inferior opponents that are not used to such physical play, but it would never fly elsewhere.

OK, in the West we can bench French hockey players, in the East you can elect French prime ministers.

Fair?

 

[La Grosse Tendresse]

Pouliot doesn't speak a word of french and he also needs more ice time. Stop the racist paranoia.

Benoit Pouliot is French.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Pouliot doesn't speak a word of french and he also needs more ice time. Stop the racist paranoia.

I might be blind, but I saw Latendresse on the ice for 4 small shifts. And I saw at least 3 solid body checks. He was on the ice on Barker's goal and then, got benched. Really, Sutter should explain why he's benching him. He might have a good reason, and we'd shut our dirty mouths, but as long as I'm concerned, I can't see why he doesn't have at least a chance.

Pouliot is french.